Looking for Prospects: Beatrice Co. said it...

Looking for Prospects: Beatrice Co. said it is looking for acquisitions in a policy switch following three years of rapid-fire divestitures. Beatrice was taken private in a 1986 leveraged buyout led by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. Beatrice has sold several of its holdings, including the Avis car rental firm, the Tropicana juice business and underwear-maker Playtex. Proceeds were used to pay down debt. The company’s remaining businesses are almost all food-related, and Chief Executive Fred Rentschler said he’s looking for businesses compatible with operations such as Beatrice’s Swift-Eckrich meat division or its Hunt-Wesson food operations.